Barb Spender said she's noticed the grass is brown in her neighborhood.
"It has been exceptionally dry."
Captain Rob Lipps with Fishers Fire Department said there have been 52 mulch and grass fires in Fishers so far this year. Last year, there was only one.
Monday, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning, reminding people to be careful during conditions ripe for fire
"We've had kind of a dry situation and tonight, it's worse than usual."
Captain Lipps said while cigarets can cause many of these mulch fires, lights around mulch beds are also guilty, but it's the mulch you also have to watch out for.
"If you have too much depth on your mulch as the mulch decomposes the heat of decomposition will build up heat. The heat from the outside and inside, plus wind can cause a fire."
Some tips to keep your home or property safe include:
- Keep mulch to a few inches. Don't overdo the mulch.
- Watch your landscape lights. Make sure they don't touch your mulch.
- Be careful where you smoke and how you throw out your cigarettes.
